Jefferson County panel unanimously approves 88‑lot Selma Village Estates preliminary plat

The Jefferson County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved PP25040, the preliminary plat for Selma Village Estates, during its public hearing. Commissioner Schurr moved to approve the plat and Commissioner Sparks seconded; the motion passed without opposition.

Staff presenter Josh summarized the proposal as a preliminary plat for Selma Village Estates showing 88 single‑family lots on roughly 35–38.45 acres in the R‑10 zone, served by Summerville Sewer District and Public Water Supply District 12. "The submitted preliminary plat shows 88 lots in total," Josh said, noting two primary entrances, 28‑foot‑wide streets with 5‑foot sidewalks, common ground and stormwater detention, and that the proposed density (about 2.34 units per acre) is well below the R‑10 allowance of four units per acre.

The commission’s questions focused on site engineering and neighborhood impacts. Commissioners asked whether a short dead‑end street near a church required a cul‑de‑sac; staff said the street is stubbed to allow a future connection and is not long enough to trigger a turnaround requirement. Commissioners also flagged lots (84, 85 and 86) near a mapped stream order; staff said stream buffers and the 25‑foot setback will be delineated and enforced during the improvement‑plan stage.

Resident Zach Dumas, who said he lives at 1478 Grindstone Hill Lane and was speaking for a larger group, voiced conditional support but urged the developer to address his family’s access and road maintenance concerns: "My family is responsible for maintaining that gravel road," Dumas said, asking that the road be extended to the property line or that responsibilities be clarified. Petitioner Igor Guseff of Hanging and Associates responded that the pavement will taper to the existing gravel road at the property line and that the developer can discuss extending the road with neighboring property owners.

A commissioner asked whether staff could make a soils‑district recommendation to "shall test for lead" rather than "should test for lead"; county staff and counsel said the commission cannot change the wording of an external agency’s letter and that mandatory testing language would be outside the commission’s authority.

With staff recommendations and departmental comments noted as conditions of approval, the commission approved PP25040. Per the county’s process, the commission’s decision will be forwarded to the Jefferson County Council for final action under the applicable ordinances and UDO provisions.